Envelope-delivery machine



Patented May l5, `1923.

DOMENICO coriosr, or BOSTON, Masseenusn'rrs.

nNvnLOrn-Diimvnnv MACHINE.

Application led August 19, 1921. Serial No. 493,642.

To aZZ'z/Jhom t may concer/t.'

Be it known that I, DOMENICO CoLosI, a subject of the King of Italy, residing at Boston, in the county of Sui'olk and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful improvements in Envelope-Delivery Machines, of which the following is a specification. i y

The object of this invention is the construction of an improved coin-controlled means for the individual delivery of envelopes and the like, and it pertains, first, to

the construction of more certain and eflicient means for engaging and delivering the lowerinost envelope of a pile located in the case, and, second, to thefconstruction of aI simple and inexpensive coin-actuated device for locking the delivery device against actuation.

In the drawings forming part of this specification, F ig. 1 is a sectional side eleva-` tion of the main portion of a coin-controlled envelope delivering machine embodying my improvements. F ig. 2 is aV sectional plan View of the same on the line 2 2 in Fig.' 1. Fig. 3 is a sectional plan View on the line 3-3 in Fig. 1 of a part of the machine. F ig. 4 is an enlarged detail view of the coinactuating device.

The case containing the mechanism of this delivery devicey consists ofsides 1, back 2, bottom 8, shelf 3 dividing the case into two compartments, and removable doors 4,5 for the two compartments.

The shelf 3 upon which the pile of envelopes is placed, is centrally apertured to give room for the removing mechanism, but leaving a. front marginal portion 6 between two notches 7. Beneath the shelf` 3 and slidable in grooves 9 formed by metal plates 10, 11, is a thin bar 12 carrying a pair of Hap-engaging lingers 13 which rise upward and then forward therefrom on a level slightly above that of the upper surface of the shelf, so that as the bar is slid forward the fingers enter between the fla-p1 and body of the lowermost envelope and then push the latter out from the case, just enough space being allowed between the lower edge of the door 4 and the top surface of the shelf for the passage of the one envelope at a time.

F or thus sliding the bar 12, a kleaf 14 is hinged thereto at 15, and a dog 16 fastened to the under side of this leaf. The dog is mount-ed at one end on a 'crank arm 17 which is carried by a spur gear 19 fixed upon a spindle 20. By turning the spindle and gear, the crank arm swings the dog 16 forward, carrying with it the bar 12 and its lingers 13, while a` partial turnin the opposite direction moves the bar and fingers back totheir normal position. 4

As shown in Fig. 1, the dog 16 is formed with a notch 21 near its forward end for the purpose of engaging the bar 12 and thereby limiting further movement of the parts rearward. A further and most important functionperformed by such engagement is that of tilting the points of the fingers 13 upward when the parts are thus returned. This tilting is due to the fact that the spindle 2O being turned backward by a helical spring 22 mounted thereon, as shown in Fig. 3, and attached at its ends to the plate 1() and gear 19 respectively, the crank arm 17 presses the rear end of the dog 16 downward and hence its front end upward, since the intermediate point of the dog is fulcrumed by the hinge 1 `This tilting of the fingers 13 serves to en.

sure the separationof the flap from the body of the lowermost envelope, since the upward pressure given by the ends of the ngers Aclose to the edge of the flap tends to fieX the body away from the flap, and thereby to give ample space for the penetration Ef the fingers between the flap and envelope-` ody.

F or therotation of the spindle 2O and gear 19, I prefer to provide a smaller spur gear 23 meshing with the gear 19, and a. spindle 24 on which the smaller gear is mounted, the spindle 24 passingthrough to the exterior of the case and provided with an Operating crank handle 25 thereat. The spur gear 23 being smaller than the gear 19, less force is required for actuating the mechanism.

For locking the mechanism against actuation except upon theintroduction of a designated coin, the spindle 24 is provided with a cam 26 having a shoulder 27 normally engaged by ay detent 29 whose weight causes its hook 30 to rest upon the cam, the detent being pivotally supported at 31. When the proper coin is introduced through a coin chute 32, it comes to rest between the cam 26 and a shoulder 33 near the lower section of the detent, as shown in Fig. 4. Now, when the spindle 24 is forcibly turned, its cam presses the coin against the shoulder 33 suffioiently to swing the hook 30 out of the path upper compartment with theiiI flaps all beof the shoulder .27, and so permits the spindle andv connected parts to receive thedesired actuation 'for the delivery of an envelope. -I'Vhen the spindle 24 has turned far enough to present a smaller radius to the coin, the latter falls to the bottom of the lower' compartment and leaves the mechanism iiree for subsequent action.

`Without the interposition oi the coin, the.'

cani-shoulder meets the detent-liook and thereby locks the mechanism against delivery action,A Y

,Aqpile yof envelopes being;` placed in the neath, and the flap-folds forward, whenever a proper coin is insertedl and the crank handle 25 turned, the fingers 13 are pressed forward intoengagement with the flap oic the lowermost envelope, and the latter carried forwardV and `fiar enough out from the case to be easily withdrawntherefrom by hand. To Ipermit the flap to descend below the level oi?v the shelf" 3, depressions f5-tare formed therein, as shown in Figs. l and 2.

fIVhat I claim is;

l'. envelope delivery machine compristhe yloweririost Hap, and means for actuating said fingers embracing" a rotative spindle having` a lcrankf arm, a dogheld by said crank arm, and a sliding har hinged to said dog and carryingsaid fingers, said dogr being adapted totilt the said barV and fingers upward when the latter are at the beginning of their flap-engagement stroke, vbut to permit their slight depression after such engagement.

ing a.y case, a support therein for a pile of 2. An yenvelope delivery machine comprisenvelopes flaps down, substantially horizontal fingers for engaging the, lowermost flap,

inc' a case.` a support therein tor a pile of envelopes flaps down, fingers for engaging;`

ingv a case. asupport therein 'for a pile of envelopes `flaps down, fingers for engaging said Flaps, and means for actuating said iin- ,ejers comprising a` spindle havin-s' a crank arm and a spur gear, a doe pivotally carried by said crank arm, a slidable bar conneet-ed with said dog and carrying said tin- 'Y l gers, a-spindle having a spur gear meshing with the First-named lgear but substantially smaller than the same, and means eXterior of the case for rotating the second-named spindle. v

d. An envelope delivery machinecomprisi in qfa case, a support therein for a pile of envelopes iiaps down, `fingers for engaging lsaid flaps, and means for actuating said fingers comprising a. spindle having a crank armand aspur gear, a dog pivoted to said crank arm, a slidable bar hinged to said dog and carrying` said fingers, a spindle having? a spur `gear meshing withthe first-named gear, and means for turning the last named spindle, the free end of said. dog being disposed to rest upon the last-named spindle during' the conclusion of the delivery stroke i of said fingers.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing invention,` I havehereunto set my hand this 18th day of August, 1921.r

" DOMENICO COLOSI. 

